Bellingham: Town clerk seeks re-election

Friday

BELLINGHAM - Town Clerk Ann Odabashian is hoping to be re-elected to what she says will be her final term in a position she has loved.

Odabashian is facing two challengers - Shella Fitzpatrick and David Clinton - in the only contested race in the town election on May 3.

Elected to the position eight years ago, Odabashian had served the town before that, as a member of the School Committee, Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen.

"I love working with residents," she said. That love, she added, drove her to seek the office. "When I heard (Town Clerk) Kathy Harvey was retiring, I thought what a wonderful opportunity it would be to do that on a daily basis."

The position's most challenging duty, she said, is running elections.

"New laws are always coming up," she said, adding that this year's presidential election will present new problems. "Early voting will start in October, and that's a real challenge because we'll have to have absentee ballots, early voting ballots and regular ballots."

Odabashian said the state has also changed how it handles birth and death certificates. Such certificates, she said, must now go through many hands, and any part of the process could bring about delays.

The job has its pleasurable side as well, Odabashian said, as she always enjoys the town hall's Halloween trick-or-treating events for local youths.

"I also love to marry people here, especially now. Since the weather is nicer, we can go outside," she said.

Odabashian said she does not believe this year is a good time to elect a new clerk. The death of Assistant Town Clerk Florence MacLaughlin earlier this year would mean, if a new candidate were elected, the town would have inexperienced people in both positions, she said.

"I don't think you can put a new town clerk and assistant town clerk in - it's not a position you just jump into," she said. "There's a lot to learn."

Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.

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